Report Indicates Liam Coen is Considered for Position at Ohio State

According to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports on Friday, the Chicago Bears are set to interview Liam Coen from Kentucky for their open offensive coordinator position. However, it appears that Coen might be a candidate for another coaching position as well. Matt Jones from Kentucky Sports Radio has reported that Coen is also being considered for the offensive coordinator role at Ohio State.

After concluding an 11-2 season, which involved a third consecutive loss to Michigan and a defeat against Missouri in the Cotton Bowl, Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day has opted to step away from play-calling responsibilities. This decision has left Ohio State in need of an offensive coordinator, as Brian Hartline was demoted after just one season in the role.

Before the onset of the 2023 season, Greg McElroy, ESPN college football analyst and former Alabama quarterback, highlighted Coen as one of his top 5 offensive coordinators in college football. Coen was ranked behind Ryan Grubb (Washington), Jeff Grimes (Baylor), Garrett Riley (Clemson), and Phil Longo (Wisconsin).

During his second tenure as UK offensive coordinator, Coen’s unit exhibited some inconsistency, concluding the 2023 season with an average of 29.1 points and 339.5 yards of total offense per game.

Running back Ray Davis achieved a notable feat by setting Kentucky’s single-season record for touchdowns scored, reaching a total of 21. Additionally, he became the 11th player in school history to rush for 1,100 yards in a single season. Quarterback Devin Leary contributed significantly by throwing for 2,746 yards, marking the ninth-highest single-season yardage in Wildcats history. He also tallied 25 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, with the 25 TD passes being the most by a UK quarterback since Andre Woodson in 2007.

Coen has played a crucial role in recruiting notable talents such as 4-star 2024 Kentucky quarterback signee Cutter Boley, former Georgia quarterback Brock Vandagriff, North Texas wide receiver Ja’Mori Maclin, and 2025 4-star Pennsylvania quarterback commit Stone Saunders.

In Coen’s initial tenure as UK offensive coordinator in 2021, the Wildcats achieved the second-highest average in school history for yards per play (6.41) and the third-highest for yards per rush (5.23).

Under Coen’s guidance in 2021, Kentucky secured fifth place in scoring offense (32.3 points per game), fifth in rushing offense (199.5 yards per game), and eighth in total offense (425.2 yards per game) in the SEC. Notably, running back Chris Rodriguez and wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson both concluded the season with the second-highest rushing (1,379) and receiving yards (1,334), respectively, in the SEC.

Coen played a key role in transforming quarterback Will Levis, formerly a backup at Penn State, into a top-tier NFL Draft prospect and eventual second-round pick. This transformation occurred as Kentucky secured 10 wins for the second time in four years and only the fourth time in school history.

The 38-year-old Coen, previously serving as the Los Angeles Rams’ assistant wide receivers coach from 2018-19 and assistant quarterbacks coach in 2020, rejoined head coach Sean McVay’s staff as the offensive coordinator.

Following a disappointing offensive performance last season, where Kentucky ranked 105th nationally in scoring offense, 106th in total offense and red zone efficiency, and 127th in sacks allowed, the university opted to part ways with offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello after just one season to bring Coen back into the fold.

“I just want to go somewhere, make a real impact, plant some roots a little bit. Be somewhere for a few years, at least, that you feel really good about,” Coen said last January.

“I’m excited about being back in Lexington, a place that I walked around town and only got support. Now I know we won, but I only hear people say, ‘coach, man, good luck this year. Hope you’re doing well.’ That’s cool. That’s fun to be a part of.”

If Kentucky were to lose Coen, head coach Mark Stoops would find himself searching for a fifth offensive coordinator in five seasons, posing a significant setback to the program’s ongoing progress.